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Contract negotiations between shippers and unionized port workers have dragged on for about nine months.

The disagreement is mainly centered on pay and benefits.

Last weekend, the ports were shut down.

West Coast ports support 9 million jobs, and generate about $2 trillion.

The Port of West Sacramento typically deals with bulk cargo like rice and almonds. It is a critical link for Northern California farmers who want to send their crops overseas.

The Port of Stockton also sends bulk materials overseas.

California’s almond crop is worth an estimated $4.3 billion, and growers say they are already feeling the effects from the labor dispute.

"It’s been very disruptive to our company," said Jim Jasper, a San Joaquin Valley almond grower.

Jasper said every day, his family owned farm, Stewart & Jasper Orchards in Newman, hulls, processes and loads about four truckloads of almonds to send to places such as Japan, Korea and Canada.

"Over 75 percent of our almonds are getting exported -- a little bit to Canada and Mexico, but mainly overseas, and the Oakland port is where we go," he said.

Jasper said right now, his containers are getting held up at the dock because of the ongoing labor dispute with the Pacific Maritime Association, International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union.

"I think we've probably rolled over (or) close to 100 containers, meaning that we had a ship date, set the container up, it didn't get on the ship -- so we had to store it up there, bring it back, do the paperwork again and then ship it out at a later date," he said.

The company said the delays are costing tens of thousands of dollars.

“We had a couple containers sit for almost a month at $20 a day for storage, so it kind of adds up," shipping coordinator Tania Jewell said.

Jasper said the problem is also frustrating hundreds of buyers eager to get their products on the shelves.

"In fact, a lot of them throughout the world are on a tight timeline, and so when this happens, it really messes them up," he said.

Jasper said growers up and down the Valley are in the same boat -- and if the conflict continues, he's concerned it will not only damage the economy, but he warns that if lost, foreign customers can be difficult to get back.

"We can’t wait till this gets resolved," he said. "I want to see it resolved and I want to see it resolved very soon."

The concern is widespread across the agriculture industry.

In an open letter to those involved in the union negotiations, growers of grains, nuts and other California food products expressed "deep disappointment" in the labor dispute.